Selectable closed-loop phosphatizing wash & rinse system and method

Abstract

A phosphatizing system for phosphatizing an object including a subfloor assembly for supporting an object, and adapted to direct excess run-off fluids which are flowed over the object and collected at a run-off discharge port thereof. A closed-loop phosphatizing assembly is configured to pass a phosphatizing reagent run-off fluid over the object during a phosphatizing procedure, and a having reagent fluid reservoir in fluid communication with the run-off discharge port for receipt of substantially all the reagent run-off fluids from said subfloor assembly. A rinse system is configured to pass a rinsing solution over the object to rinse the reagent run-off fluid therefrom during a finishing rinse procedure performed after the phosphatizing procedure, and having a rinse fluid reservoir in fluid communication with the run-off discharge port for receipt of substantially all the rinsing/reagent run-off fluids from said subfloor assembly. A switch assembly is fluidly coupled between said run-off discharge port and the reagent fluid reservoir and the rinse fluid reservoir, and switchable between a first condition and a second condition. In the first condition, the reagent run-off fluids are directed to the reagent fluid reservoir during the phosphatizing procedure, while in the second condition, the rinsing/reagent run-off fluids are directed to the rinse fluid reservoir during the rinse procedure, wherein said collected reagent run-off fluids in said reagent fluid reservoir are not diluted by the rinsing/reagent run-off fluids.

1 . A phosphatizing system for phosphatizing an object comprising: 
 a subfloor assembly for supporting an object, and adapted to direct excess run-off fluids which are flowed over the object and collected at a run-off discharge port thereof;    a closed-loop phosphatizing assembly configured to pass a phosphatizing reagent run-off fluid over the object during a phosphatizing procedure, and a having reagent fluid reservoir in fluid communication with the run-off discharge port for receipt of substantially all the reagent run-off fluids from said subfloor assembly;    a rinse system configured to pass a rinsing solution over the object to rinse the reagent run-off fluid therefrom during a finishing rinse procedure performed after the phosphatizing procedure, and having a rinse fluid reservoir in fluid communication with the run-off discharge port for receipt of substantially all the rinsing/reagent run-off fluids from said subfloor assembly; and    a switch assembly fluidly coupled between said run-off discharge port and the reagent fluid reservoir and the rinse fluid reservoir, and switchable between a first condition, directing the reagent run-off fluids to the reagent fluid reservoir during the phosphatizing procedure, and a second condition, directing the rinsing/reagent run-off fluids to the rinse fluid reservoir during the rinse procedure, wherein said collected reagent run-off fluids in said reagent fluid reservoir are not diluted by the rinsing/reagent run-off fluids.    
     
     
         2 . The phosphatizing system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein 
 said switch assembly includes a valve mechanism selectively operable between the first condition, directing the reagent run-off fluids to the reagent fluid reservoir, and a second condition, directing the rinsing/reagent run-off fluids to the rinse fluid reservoir.    
     
     
         3 . The phosphatizing system as defined in  claim 2 , wherein 
 said valve mechanism is provided by a 3-way ball valve or a pair of 2-way ball valves.    
     
     
         4 . The phosphatizing system as defined in  claim 1  further including: 
 a timer device coupled to said switching mechanism to delay, for a predetermined period, switching to the first condition from the second condition when switching from the rinse procedure to the phosphatizing procedure.    
     
     
         5 . The phosphatizing system as defined in  claim 5  further including: 
 said predetermined period is about 20 seconds.    
     
     
         6 . The phosphatizing system as defined in  claim 1  wherein, 
 said reagent run-off fluid includes a phosphoric acid component and a de-ionized water component, and    said rinsing solution is composed of de-ionized water.    
     
     
         7 . The phosphatizing system as defined in  claim 1  wherein, 
 said phosphatizing procedure is performed through a spray application.    
     
     
         8 . The phosphatizing system as defined in  claim 7  wherein, 
 said phosphatizing assembly is further adapted for a combined pressure wash/phosphatizing spray application.    
     
     
         9 . The phosphatizing system as defined in  claim 1  wherein, 
 said phosphatizing assembly further includes a heating element in fluid contact with the collected reagent run-off fluid in said reagent fluid reservoir for controlled heating thereof.    
     
     
         10 . The phosphatizing system as defined in  claim 1 , further including; 
 a storage tank fluidly coupled to said rinse fluid reservoir for storage of said rinsing/reagent run-off fluids.    
     
     
         11 . A method for phosphatizing an object comprising: 
 supporting the object through a subfloor assembly including a support floor having a run-off discharge port thereof;    phosphatizing the object, during a phosphatizing procedure, through a closed-loop phosphatizing assembly by passing a phosphatizing reagent run-off fluid over the object;    collecting the reagent run-off fluids in said run-off discharge port;    directing the reagent run-off fluids into a reagent fluid reservoir of the phosphatizing assembly for reuse thereof;    rinsing the object, during a finishing rinse procedure, through a rinsing assembly by passing a rinsing solution over the object;    collecting the rinsing/reagent run-off fluids in said run-off discharge port;    directing the rinsing/reagent run-off fluids into a rinse fluid reservoir of the rinsing assembly for collection thereof,    wherein the collected reagent run-off fluids in said reagent fluid reservoir are not diluted by the rinsing/reagent run-off fluids during the rinsing procedure.    
     
     
         12 . The method for phosphatizing an object as recited in  claim 11  wherein, 
 said phosphatizing the object is performed by spraying said object.    
     
     
         13 . The method for phosphatizing an object as recited in  claim 12  wherein, 
 said reagent run-off fluid includes a phosphoric acid component and a de-ionized water component, and    said rinsing the object is performed by spraying said object with a rinsing solution of uncontaminated de-ionized water or tap water.    
     
     
         14 . The method for phosphatizing an object as recited in  claim 11  wherein, 
 said directing the reagent run-off fluids and directing the rinsing/reagent run-off fluids is performed switching a switching assembly, fluidly coupled between said run-off discharge port and the reagent fluid reservoir and the rinse fluid reservoir, between a first condition, allowing passage of the run-off fluids to the reagent fluid reservoir while simultaneously preventing passage thereof to the rinse fluid reservoir, and a second condition, allowing passage of the run-off fluids to the rinse fluid reservoir while simultaneously preventing passage thereof to the reagent fluid reservoir.    
     
     
         15 . The method for phosphatizing an object as recited in  claim 14  further including: 
 delaying, for a predetermined period, the switching to the first condition from the second condition when switching from the rinse procedure to the phosphatizing procedure.    
     
     
         16 . The method for phosphatizing an object as recited in  claim 15  wherein, 
 said predetermined period is about 20 seconds.    
     
     
         17 . The method for phosphatizing an object as recited in  claim 15  wherein,